US Prepares to Seize More Tankers, Cites 'Rules-Based Order'
While Al-Monitor highlights the US's renewed commitment to seizing Venezuelan tankers – a move the US calls 'enforcing sanctions' – the glaring double standard escapes mainstream critique. The US Navy, capable of intercepting 'sanctioned' oil, remains suspiciously unengaged when it comes to shipments directly fueling military actions that defy international condemnation. One might wonder if
'rules' are just suggestions for some. The US, which routinely champions 'freedom of navigation,' seems to apply these freedoms selectively. The US government's willingness to use naval power to enforce its unilateral sanctions on Venezuela starkly contrasts with its apparent reluctance to intervene when, for example, humanitarian aid is blockaded or international law is flouted by its allies.
This isn't about principle; it's about power. The 'rules-based order' championed by Washington appears to be a flexible framework, easily bent to serve geopolitical agendas while conveniently ignoring egregious violations elsewhere. How many 'rules-based order' violations are acceptable when committed by friends?